Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
PureWow
The 5 Best Madewell Jeans, According to Editors Who Wear Them Daily
By Abby Hepworth,
2024-08-09
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here .
There are lots of things to love about Madewell —its luxurious leather handbags , its oh-so cozy knits, its mix of trendy and timeless dresses—but the thing that keeps me coming back season after season absolutely has to be the denim. Madewell jeans have a reputation for having a phenomenal fit , as well as surprising durability and a soft-yet-sturdy feel that rivals premium denim brands that cost twice as much. I and multiple members of the PureWow editorial team (as well as a pretty large section of my friend group outside of work) are fairly obsessed, but which pair reigns supreme as the best Madewell jeans of all time? It may actually be impossible to name just one, but these five are definitely leading the pack, in my opinion, and deserve a spot in your regular denim rotation.
All of the Madewell jeans on this list come directly recommended by the PureWow editorial team. I chose only those pairs our team has worn for at least a few months (or in some cases, a few years) to ensure these picks will continue to hold up well over time. I then combed through reviews on the Madewell website, as well as reviews posted to TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to ensure we’re not the only ones crazy about these jeans.
Both I and Commerce Editor Olivia Dubyak are fully obsessed with Madewell’s ‘90s Straight Jeans as an ideal pair of everyday pants that can truly do it all. Dress them up, dress them down, they can be made to work for just about any occasion and have such a classic fit, I feel confident they won’t be going out of style any time soon (or ever, really). They also come in a huge range of washes, so you can opt for a lighter blue for weekends or warm weather, or the trendy indigo wash shown above for the office or date night. Dubyak adds, “I wear these when I want to throw on heels and a nice top. The ‘90s silhouette has a bit more structure than my other go-to, the Perfect Vintage WideLegs, but they’re made of the brand’s comfort stretch material and I could literally sleep in them. Plus, they make my legs and booty look nice and lifted.” As for fit, most reviewers say these jeans fit true to size, but there are some variations across different washes. Be sure to double check the fabrication for the wash you’re eyeing, and know that darker washes tend to have less stretch than lighter ones, so you can feel confident you’re adding your best size to your shopping cart.
Dubyak’s second favorite Madewell jean? The Perfect Vintage Wide Legs, which feature a comfortable, loose leg and flattering high rise. “These feel like a go-to pair of cozy jeans you throw on with your favorite T-shirt or dress up with heels,” she notes. “They can be dressed up or down and they fit my curves like a glove. I love the finished hem, and that I was able to get them in the tall length for my long legs.” Indeed, they come in three different inseam lengths, all of which are on the longer side, making these jeans easy to wear with heels or chunky-sole shoes. The shape of the leg also isn’t so wide as to read ‘70s bellbottom. It’s sort of halfway between a straight leg and a super-wide boho fit. As for the sizing, reviewers generally note these jeans run big, so you may want to consider going down one from your usual size for a better overall fit.
I’m joined by Senior Editor Dana Dickey and Editor in Chief Jillian Quint as a huge fan of this cropped silhouette from Madewell, specifically for petite frames. “I'm 5’4” with short legs, and the petite size is actually cropped on me, yay!” raves Dickey. “The medium rise sleekly hugs my rear and tummy. They come in so many washes and the little front patch pockets are charmingly retro. Finally, the 2 percent elastane makes for a stretchy fit that doesn't get too stretched out.” Quint adds, “These are the only jeans that actually look cropped on my 5’1” frame, and the small amount stretch means they hug my butt in the right places (but with enough heft to avoid panty lines).” I concur, these jeans, which come in four inseam lengths so folks of all heights can get in on the fun, make my butt look amazing. They have a well-defined V-shaped yoke, and the kick at the hem help me to fake more of an hourglass figure.
Almost all of Madewell’s denim comes in both petite and tall lengths, in addition to standard, but this classic straight-leg silhouette also comes in what the brand called “taller” fit for even more length. With an extra six inches added to the standard length, the taller silhouette is a dream for those who feel they can never find denim long enough to cover their ankles. For tall women looking for a pair of classic jeans they can wear for years to come, without going out of style or stretching out, the Perfect Vintage jeans are an absolute must-have. The leg has a similar cut to the ‘90s Straight above, but ultimately fits closer to the body, making them a phenomenal option for anyone trying to kick their skinny jean habit without going fully baggy . As for sizing, reviewers say the Perfect Vintage Jeans fit true to size.
Barrel-leg jeans, sometimes called horseshoe or balloon jeans, are the current coolest thing in denim. The bow shape has an old-school cowboy vibe that’s proven a bit divisive: Some folks saying the shape is too exaggerated while others find it fun and a cool switch up from the straight-leg silhouettes that have dominated our closets lately. But for those interested in testing the trend, this Madewell pair is one of the most accessible pairs I’ve tried. “Because these jeans have a more subtle barrel effect on the sides of the legs, I do think that, combined with thicker thighs, the shape appears less dramatic,” says Dubyak, who recently gave these jeans a full PureWow100 review . “I usually opt for jeans with more structure that fit tighter (like a nice pair of straight-leg jeans) and was worried with the width of the leg shape of these ones that it would make my hips look wider. To my surprise, because of the fitted waist and space before the side seams barrel out, it actually does the opposite, making my waist and hips look narrower with the width of the legs.” Similarly, I found these jeans to be much more flattering than other brands I’ve tried, thanks largely to the seam at the knee and the mid-rise waist. I tried on three different sizes and found the smallest fit me best, but Dubyak opted for her usual size and preferred the slightly looser fit it provided.
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
Comments / 0